Rafael: I Play For The Best Team In The World

July 30, 2010

Rafael da Silva has been called up to the 23-man Brazilian national squad for their friendly against the USA in August. New manager Mano Menezes has left out some of Dunga’s World Cup squad, after the team’s disappointing end to the tournament.

Rafael is obviously very happy to have been called up and recognises he is likely to play in Maicon’s absence.

“I’m so happy to have been called up to the national team and very proud,” said Rafael. “It’s my first call and I hope there will be more to come in the future. The coach called me before he announced the squad and asked me how I felt and how my training was going. I was so happy when he told me I was going to be in the squad. Maicon plays in my position and he is a great player who I can learn a lot from. I am so lucky to play for the best team in the world, Manchester United. Now to play for my country will be a dream come true.”

88 Comments

the game is at 3:15am saturday BST, so it is playing in mexico at 9:15pm eastern standard time friday night, and since england is 6 hours ahead of the east coast, then unfortunately it is in the early early morning for everyone in europe.

it is not playing on any channels in the US except for ESPN Deportes since they got the exclusivity for this game, so I suspect internet links would be the way to watch this game.

Ronaldo also did not track back but he was great for us. Ozil if we sign him would improve our creativity and possession play. you can not compare him with the impact berbatov has in the team. ofcourse we haven't seen him at united but the way he performed at the world cup he will fit to our team. As for berbatov we have seen what he can do..10/12 goals a season.

Well i saw bremen last season and ozil did well.he is surrounded by average players there.their best player after him is claudio pizzaro.says it all really.although marko marin is very similar to ozil and talented too

ozil can play on the wing,as an attacking mid,great passing range,can score goals, anticipate runs,is just 21.what more do we need?

Rumours abound that he just landed at the airport in Manchester! Anyway, if he signs (or someone like him signs) what do we do with our formation? Fletch and an other sit while he gets freedom behind Rooney? He plays on the left or the right and cuts in?

People are too blind to see what is in front of them. Khedira is not fit to lace up Fletcher's boots.

Fletcher is not just a harrier and tackler. Inch perfect 35-40 yarder to Nani right before Macheda's goal. The runs into the box. The pass for Cleverly and Chicharito. Fletcher's crossing is one of the best in the team as well, an excellent header of the ball and this is on top of the work he does. He is one of the most complete midfielders out there and to put Khedira who after one 1 WC where he wasn't even the better players on the team his laughable.

Try one day watch a game and taking out of your mind what people like Whinger (Wenger) have tried to portray him as - a destroyer. Watch how he manages to keep the ball when he is closed down or some of the passes he makes. His main job is to keep things simple and work the ball to Scholes or whoever the creator player is but, he is more than capable of making long or medium range passes or perfectly weighted through balls.

Ugh nothing bugs me more than how even our own fans underrate Fletcher.

Don't think that marin is similar to özil.
Marin is definitly a winger with great dribbling skills and a big amount of speed.
Özil is a player who's best when he plays behind the striker.
He's able to play on the wings but i think lots of his potential gets lost there.
But he definitly has to work on his finish and to go after lost balls.

Khedira, 76% passing rate at the world cup, 83% at medium range. Saying that you think Fletcher is better is a perfectly valid opinion but don't say nonsense like Khedira isn't fit to lace up up Fletch's boots, he is a good player.

Marin is a winger but i do think he can play as an attacking mid.he has good vision(not as good as ozil) and more pace.plus he is a bit younger.agree he needs to work on his passing and finishing but the talent is there

@zelh
Y should you compare fletcher with khedira.I think both could have played for us together.But i guarenteee real would not respect khediras talent and khedira will become like benzema.I hope we sign lass diarra .It would be great to see fletch-lass combo.

Fair enough that the comment that he isn't fit to face up Fletch's boots is a bit harsh but, he is no where yet near the class of Fletcher who is one of the best in Europe.

76% passing for a player that is supposed to be keeping it simple and working the ball out of the midfield is not that spectacular. You expect a player in his position to be far better especially as he is working a lot of balls back to defenders and or his midfield partner in Schweinsteiger. Khedira isn't the one playing through balls or crossing or spraying them out to the wing players. That was Schweiny's.

Pay attention the stats of players like Mascherano/Carrick/Scholes have in their holding role - the role that Khedira plays - they are far better.

Maybe in a few years ago when he develops we can come back and compare the two but, right now Khedira is not in the same league as Fletcher.

The think that sets Fletcher apart in my view is his attitude and durability. You can have better talent, but that will not replace Fletcher. Fletcher will still be there in March, April and May, marking like a terrier. He would be there in June if they let him. Agree with everyone who thinks there is something special about a guy who can do it week in and out for a whole season and who has won the admiration of the fans. Playing at United is something completely different then anywhere else, it takes nerves, a brain, and a very special brand of durability. You can bring in other guys maybe, but to assume they will be good for 40+ games is just dreaming. This is why the young ones come into the team and get sent out on loan, it takes years to develop the ability to get stuck in. I'll wager Anderson will make good, but you see with him that playing in the United mid takes a durable body and mind.
As for tonight, Get stuck in Lads! The United way!

We bid for Benzema though because Real seemed about to sign Villa so while they were sorting the details out we decided to try and steal a march. Sadly Valencia decided to start messinga round on the deal worth £45mill and rather than lose 1st and 2nd choice they switched back to Benzema when we bid.

Again on the 'value' thing if he saaid he was happy and wasn't looking to buy anyone else he then would be telling lies. Like Gill said United like most Football clubs are never happy with their squad and are looking every day into how they could be improved. There are almost certain players out there who if the deals could be done in the ballpark figures of United valuation for the players they would go after. We don't want a Berba situation of paying well over the odds

No he said he is happy with the squad. Thats not the same as not wanting to add. In fact his Anderson and Hargreave comment actually shows he isn't counting out another signing as he knows he will know full well the A list players on the clubs books and knows we have 25 atm

Bremen haven't said they will sell him though, not officially. Football clubs don't always do the obvious thing, look at Villa with Barry where they could have got 5mill + player more from Liverpool than they got a year later OR Arsenel with Cesc who I believe next season can buy his contract out for around 10mill so Arsenel digging their heels in just losess them a minimum of 19mill

I suspect they do want to sell but are they really going to put up with insulting 12mill offers and sell him to us OR will they decide he is worth more and we have taken the piss and lose him for nothing to prove a point

I don't think its just Berbatov who doesn't get credit for good games either from our fans at times. I think Carrick falls into the same group too, he was awful at times last season but before then he had 2 great seasons and he was still often a target on sites like this. You are right in that it often seems that 'Running around like a headless chicken' does get more respect than simply being good in England. Infact some of the Spanish players suggested that with their comments about Carrick

I won't pretend to be an expert on German football but my understand of Ozil in club football is he is a little hit and miss. He will put in top games but he is also prone to go missing for whole games. He is still young so that could be it and maybe the World Cup could be what will make his consistancy click BUT I do think perhaps everyone is building him up a little too much based on the World Cup only. He has the basic skills to do the job but at the end of the day I will put my trust in SAf and the scouting/coaching team to decide if he has the rest of it to belond at United

fair enough. I do think if we table a bid of around 10 odd million and Bremen reject it they will urge other clubs to make an offer. If no one does they will sell him to us in the last few days of the transfer window rather than lose him for free and thats the reason i havent completely given up hope of us signing him. As per my knowledge no club has made an offer for him. SAF did sign to sign him in 2008 but he opted to move to bremen instead.

All Credit to the youngster he deserved this as I always thought gonna be one of the best right backs in the World if not the Best.
Who Else in the Manchester United History has graced the brazilian shirt.
Ignoring Anderson. THATS easy

Still have to disagree, his midrange passing was up to scratch with Xavi's in terms of accuracy, long range wasn't bad either, only his short passing needed a bit of work. Given the system we play now anyway, there is no reason that we couldn't play both of them in midfield. Khedira the most defensive, Fletcher having equal responsibilities at either end, and one other midfielder who can be a bit lazy defending. 'Luxury' players win titles!